Medicine King Valley, Cloud Hidden Peak — a flash of cyan light, and Yang Kai materialized.
He didn't fly straight to the top, instead stopping of his own accord at the base of the peak.
This was the holy land in the hearts of every alchemist under heaven, home to the greatest alchemist in the world, Xiao Fusheng. No one who came here would be so rude as to fly up the mountain.
Years ago, Yang Kai had spent some time in Medicine King Valley. Though he'd never learned the art of pill refinement from Master Xiao, the old man had taught him many invaluable lessons. On the road of Yang Kai's growth, those lessons had come in handy more times than he could count.
Yang Kai held this amiable master in genuine respect, as well as the two beautiful women who served him — they had given Yang Kai the very best of their resources back then.
He was deeply grateful for their generosity and their help.
This trip, he'd come prepared to bring all three of them to the Tongxuan Continent.
Xiao Fusheng's lifelong wish had been to refine a spirit-grade pill, but bound by the limitations of this world, he had never managed to achieve it. As long as they reached the Tongxuan Continent, with its resources and with Xiao Fusheng's skill, crafting a spirit-grade pill would be no difficult task.
Yang Kai began walking at a leisurely pace up Cloud Hidden Peak, his gaze sweeping over the medicinal herbs cultivated along the mountainside as he recalled the two months he'd spent living here.
A smile crept onto his face involuntarily.
Medicine King Valley looked much the same as before. Wu Zheng had been raising hell in Zhongdu and around Lingxiao Pavilion with a gang of cronies, but it didn't seem to have affected this place.
Before long, he reached the summit.
Just as always — a few thatched huts, exceedingly simple.
Two full-figured women were sweeping fallen leaves and dust in front of the huts, scarves wrapped around their hair to keep it from getting dirty.
Hearing Yang Kai's footsteps, both women looked up. The one in front wiped the fine sheen of sweat from her forehead and studied him with suspicious, beautiful eyes.
"Aunt Xiang! Aunt Lan!" Yang Kai grinned broadly and called out.
"Could you be…" Aunt Xiang froze for a moment. Then delight burst into her eyes. She dropped the broom in her hands and hurried over. "Yang Kai?"
"That's me."
Aunt Lan came over as well, nodding slightly. She looked him over from head to toe and smiled with pursed lips. "After all these years, I almost didn't recognize you."
"You've put on more weight — in a good way. You used to look rather scrawny." Aunt Xiang gestured warmly. "Come in and sit down."
"Mm."
Inside the hut, around a plain wooden table, Yang Kai sat with Aunt Xiang and Aunt Lan. Three cups of coarse tea were set on the table.
Aunt Lan said, "We don't have anything fancy to offer — don't stand on ceremony."
"You're too modest, Aunt Lan." Yang Kai drained the tea in front of him in one gulp and smiled. "Even after all these years, you two haven't changed a bit. Just as young as before."
The two women exchanged a glance and smiled behind pursed lips.
"You silver-tongued thing — all you know is how to flatter," Aunt Xiang scolded, shooting him a look. "How many girls have you charmed?"
"Not that many." Yang Kai scratched his head.
"I heard you left Zhongdu over ten years ago. Nobody knew where you went. You've come back now?"
"Mm. Just got back a few days ago."
"As long as you're back safe and sound. The Master used to talk about you all the time — he'd say that you clearly knew alchemy but acted like you hadn't the faintest clue. You even fooled him when you first came here."
"Back then… I really didn't know anything. Speaking of which, where's the Master? Is he in seclusion underground again, refining pills?" Yang Kai asked.
Aunt Xiang and Aunt Lan's expressions darkened at once. The smiles faded from their faces, replaced by a look of quiet sorrow.
Yang Kai's heart sank. A bad feeling welled up inside him.
"The Master… he passed away five years ago." Aunt Xiang turned her face away, her eyes rimmed red, and said in a low voice.
Yang Kai stood rooted to the spot, an indescribable ache churning in his chest. It felt like his insides were being turned upside down.
Then it suddenly dawned on him — the reason Master Xiao had publicly taken on a disciple all those years ago was because he'd sensed his own days were numbered, and he'd been in such a desperate hurry.
Yet he had already left this world five years ago.
"Master…" Yang Kai opened his mouth.
"His wish was fulfilled!" Aunt Xiang fought back the grief and produced a jade box from inside her clothes. "Just seven days before he passed. He burned through his last reserves of life force and refined a spirit-grade pill. This is what he made."
Yang Kai took it. It felt heavy in his hands — as if what he held wasn't a pill, but a life.
He opened it. The pill was round and lustrous, its spiritual energy practically radiating off it, its medicinal essence condensed to perfection. Even an outstanding spirit-grade alchemist might not be able to produce a pill of this quality.
"The Master went very peacefully." Aunt Xiang wiped the corners of her eyes and forced a smile. "So there's no need for us to grieve too deeply. But the Master said — spirit grade is not the ultimate pinnacle of alchemy. Above spirit grade, there must certainly be even higher qualities."
Yang Kai's body trembled slightly, secretly stunned by Xiao Fusheng's far-sighted vision.
In that moment, he seemed to understand — the reason Xiao Fusheng had been so desperate to refine a spirit-grade pill wasn't to achieve some breakthrough in his own alchemy. It was because he'd wanted to use the power of a single man to shatter the shackles of this world.